PLO mulling rescinding recognition of Israel

A senior Palestine Liberation Organization official says it is considering rescinding its recognition of Israel, claiming Jerusalem is uninterested in pursuing peace with the Palestinians.

Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, tells Voice of Palestine radio that committee members discussed the move in a meeting in Ramallah yesterday.

He says rescinding the recognition was based on the lack of a Palestinian state.

“The discussion focused on coming up with a formula for suspending recognition of Israel on the grounds that recognition could be only done between states,” Majdalani says.

“The Palestinian Authority was created to lead the people from occupation to independence and not to become an agent of the occupation. It is a tool for achieving the Palestinian state,” he says. “The Palestinians cannot remain the only party adhering to the signed agreements while Israel does not abide by them and always violate their terms.”

The Executive Committee is set to meet again on Saturday to discuss the measure. Majdalani says the meeting’s “most important recommendation will be rejecting the US decision recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”